Irene Shafer

Irene Shafer, 83, passed away peacefully Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009, at home — surrounded by family — after a short battle with cancer.

Irene was born May 9, 1926, to Josephine (Trinko) Karnes and Carl Karnes in Hatchville, Wis., at home on the family farm. She attended schools in Elmwood, Wis., and Dunn County Ag School in Menomonie, Wis. She met Vaughn, the love of her life, and they were married on Aug. 21, 1945, in Menomonie, Wis. at the Peace Lutheran Church. They had five children and decided that they would rather raise them in Montana than in the city and moved to Montana in 1963. They loved Montana deeply and shared a love of hiking and picking huckleberries and showing their visiting friends all around their beautiful state.

Irene worked for the Postal Service for many years, first as an employee of the Hungry Horse Post Office, then as a post mistress. When the Hungry Horse office went private, she opted to work at the Columbia Falls Post Office where she made many friends with which she remained close to this day. In 1982, she and Vaughn purchased the Hungry Horse Corral, which Vaughn continues to own and operate.

She was many things to many people. She was a daughter, wife, mom, mother-in-law, sister, grandma, aunt, great-grandmother and friend. She was a patron to many entities in the valley and state wide, but her favorites were the Canyon Elementary School and Wildcat Athletic Endowment Association.

Irene held many important positions in our small community and was well known for her fairness and her ability to think things through. She was also known for her strong business sense. Irene will be missed by the Hungry Horse Water Board where she volunteered many years of service.

You always knew where you stood with Irene. She did not hold back in life and we are sure that she is finding her rightful place in Heaven as we speak.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Josephine Karnes; and her brother Carl (Buddie) Karnes. She is survived at the family home by her husband of 64 years, Vaughn Shafer; their oldest son Terry Shafer and wife Judy of Hungry Horse, son Ron Shafer of Columbia Falls, son Mark Shafer and wife Sharon of Whitefish, daughter Jan Sergeant of Lakeside and San Diego, Calif., and youngest son Craig Shafer of Hungry Horse; grandchildren Todd Shafer of Kalispell, Toni (Shafer) Nanini and husband James of Kalispell, Siara (Shafer) Jay and husband Chuck of Bonney Lake, Wash., Ben Shafer and wife Amanda of Hungry Horse, Kyla Shafer of LaVerne, Calif., Cydney Sergeant of San Diego, Calif., and Jeff Shafer of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Irene had one great-grandchild who was the light of her life, Aspen Grace Shafer, daughter of Ben and Amanda Shafer.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Canyon Elementary School or the Wildcat Athletic Endowment Association.

Services will be held at the Canyon Elementary School gym at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8. There will be a potluck memorial celebration in honor of Irene's life immediately following the service at Canyon Elementary School.